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Now, that's not a bad idea. Not a bad idea at all.
remember though that some cables are just rubbish (No matter what the dealers claim)
If you can borrow a decent mains conditioner whilst your at it (isotek say) and silver plated BRAIDED cable (None of this armoured cable rubbish, it protects from virtually nothing despite the claims):idea:0 -
I'm not sure if Richer Sounds stock that kind of stuff....lol
There might be an independent dealer around here I'm not aware of though.0 -
I'm not sure if Richer Sounds stock that kind of stuff....lol
There might be an independent dealer around here I'm not aware of though.
Richer sounds are awesome for cheap hifi but ABYSMAL for cables, or indeed 'advice' (Dont believe ANYTHING they say)
Saying that they do stock (or did when I last checked) THOR scart cables which are VERY good for the money.:idea:0 -
aliEnRIK, you seem to have missed this from earlier:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/feature-article-blind-test-power-cords-12-2004.html
Thoughts?
I missed this ~ sorry
and yeah, i shall quote this. Note the fact that the guy that set this blind test describes them as later being BROKEN IN! oooooo ~ could that mean........
"What is Reality?
While I feel no need to defend my perceptions, it is important to ground accusations of subjective delusion and placebo effect in the reality of my actual review of the Nordost Valhalla power cords.
If you refer back to that review, you will discover that I initially expressed disbelief that the thin Valhalla power cords, “ . . .with their transparent outer shielding and red, black, and silver innards [measuring] 7/16” thick,” could trump the thick and unwieldy aftermarket power cords I was then using. I also expressed disappointment with the initial sound of the Nordost Valhalla power cords. To quote:
“Over the course of a month of use, the sound I have heard through the Valhallas progressed from flat, dull and dry to shiny bright albeit monochromatic to its current level. I remember at one point lamenting that while the top was as transparent and vibrant as all get-out, there was precious little body and bass. As you will read below, that is NOT the case once these power cords are broken in. Had I drawn conclusions based on my initial experiences with the cabling, you would be reading a very different review.”
and heres the actual review
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_3/nordost-vishnu-valhalla-power-cables-7-2004.html
"Then along came the two Valhallas. After they had broken in........."
"It was on the transport that the second Valhalla had the most impact. All of a sudden, I heard a level of deep bass, sparkling highs, three dimensionality, transparency, and air that I had never before heard on my system.
The change was anything but subtle. It was impossible to miss. The soundstage opened up, for the first time approaching the sense of boundlessness I experience in Davies Symphony Hall. There was an extra level of resonance, a greater awareness of the sound of the hall brought about by the Valhalla’s stunningly transparent window."
"An hour or two of musical cables followed, as I jockeyed Valhallas and Vishnus back and forth between Power Plant, transport, Theta, and Jadis. My final conclusion is that the $600 Vishnu definitely shares with the Valhalla an extraordinary transparency and sparkling clarity that approach what I experience up close in live concert settings. What the Vishnu does not transmit is the sheer weight and bass extension of the Valhallas. For many audiophiles, combining one Valhalla on the transport or power conditioner with Vishnus on other components may deliver all the transparency, clarity, brilliance, and heft they desire."
"For audiophiles who want the ultimate in bass and treble extension as well as musical involvement, the Valhalla is the way to go. The bass is marvelous, the size and weight lifelike, the soundstage seemingly boundless, the window as clear as can be. Highs shimmer, bass pounds with lightning fast speed. Those who have heard the equivalent of Mahler’s compositions performed in a top notch concert hall will especially appreciate what the Valhallas can do. They are, in a word, stunning."
Basically this guy has done exactly what I do. BURNED the cables in then compared to others. And all we're talking about here are MAINS cables
:idea:0 -
I missed this ~ sorry
That's quite all right.and yeah, i shall quote this. Note the fact that the guy that set this blind test describes them as later being BROKEN IN! oooooo ~ could that mean........
If I was conducting this test, I would "burn them in" too. Not because I think it would make any difference, but just to eliminate the possibility that people would complain that the test was invalid because they hadn't been burnt in.Basically this guy has done exactly what I do. BURNED the cables in then compared to others. And all we're talking about here are MAINS cables
Well yes, but when he then tested them in a double-blind ABX test, he was unable to tell the difference, as was everyone else who participated.
I also thought it was interesting that the people who were most adamant they could tell the difference turned out to be the most inaccurate at actually doing so.0 -
I also thought it was interesting that the people who were most adamant they could tell the difference turned out to be the most inaccurate at actually doing so.
You missunderstand my point Marty
Im simply pointing out thats there IS clearly a difference. The differences they heard was down to actual taste. Some cables sound bright, others bassy, others powerful and so on and built to peoples tastes and whatever they intend to use the cable for. As its explained in the review 1 of the cables would be best on the transport (cd or dvd) and the other style cable best connected to everything else. Ive heard some VERY expensive cables in my time and some sounded,well, tinny (to my ears), or too much bass. The best cables are 'natural' sounding. Ones that dont 'add' anything to the mix. So if someone plays an instrument it SOUNDS like the instrument should, not distorted in some way. SO its all dependant on the music thats being played. If somone likes balls out rock then they probably woudlnt mind the cheaper variety as they tend to be a bit 'brighter' sounding than the 'natural' sounding cables (This is just one example of thousands)
Ill reiterate what he pointed out ~
"“Over the course of a month of use, the sound I have heard through the Valhallas progressed from flat, dull and dry to shiny bright albeit monochromatic to its current level. I remember at one point lamenting that while the top was as transparent and vibrant as all get-out, there was precious little body and bass. As you will read below, that is NOT the case once these power cords are broken in. Had I drawn conclusions based on my initial experiences with the cabling, you would be reading a very different review.”
"
He 'clearly' states they sounded different from initially having them to what they are today.
So to sum up, all cables do NOT sound the same............
Also, theres serious failings with the actual test but I dont see a way around it either. Ive tried similar things in the past but you end up getting confused for one simple reason. It takes a while for everything to bed in as soon as ANY cable is changed. So when I test cables now (or indeed anything that I class as an 'upgrade') I leave them for a month (Even if they are already fully burned in). Over that time you will realise what differences there are. If your not happy you change back.
As in example I bought my dads old speaker cable off him (which is very good stuff) and even though it was FULLY burned in (over 3 years or more) it sounded.....weird to begin with. Shrilly with lots of treble. It took my system 3 days or more to calm down (Whilst the hifi adjusts if you will). After a month or more it sounded absolutely beautiful ~ FAR better than the QED I HAD been using.:idea:0 -
I went to a hi-fi shop to get little pads for my speakers.
When I got home I fitted them and I honestly did not expect to hear any difference but, as soon as I put on a CD the lack of difference was incredible... even my wife commented on how good they were at protecting the wooden floor.
But you can hear cables, you don't have to prove it. In fact you don't have to prove anything as most of it boils down to taste. Music is Art. Most "improvements" in hi-fi normally mean spending a lot of money for very little difference but eventually it can all add up.
Science put my telly together but it was Baird's imagination that invented it.Science usually attempts to prove what most of us know...or is that research?.
We had monitors at school..bullies most of them0 -
I went to a hi-fi shop to get little pads for my speakers.
When I got home I fitted them and I honestly did not expect to hear any difference but, as soon as I put on a CD the lack of difference was incredible... even my wife commented on how good they were at protecting the wooden floor.
But you can hear cables, you don't have to prove it. In fact you don't have to prove anything as most of it boils down to taste. Music is Art. Most "improvements" in hi-fi normally mean spending a lot of money for very little difference but eventually it can all add up.
Science put my telly together but it was Baird's imagination that invented it.Science usually attempts to prove what most of us know...or is that research?.
We had monitors at school..bullies most of them
Your speakers are probably c*ap, theres probably nothing HIFI about your system in any way and those pads are rubbish yes.
however "Most "improvements" in hi-fi normally mean spending a lot of money for very little difference but eventually it can all add up." is actually one of the best comments i've actually heard and for that I applaud you sir. Its quite true that some upgrades dont make much difference until theyre accumulated. Other upgrades are a bit more 'instant' in their effect
Diff strokes init
Some people (yes I am one) like to get the very best out of their equipment, others are really not bothered (or more to the truth, they dont understand that equipment CAN look/sound better).:idea:0
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